Washington (CNN) - President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner met at the White House shortly after 5 p.m. ET Thursday amid negotiations to avert the so-called fiscal cliff.

The meeting was the two men's first face-to-face meeting since Sunday, though they spoke as recently as Tuesday by telephone.- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker

Boehner's spokesman, Brendan Buck, said in a statement after the meeting, "The president and speaker had a frank meeting in the Oval Office tonight. It lasted approximately 50 minutes. There will be no further readout of the meeting, but lines of communication remain open."

soundoff(17 Responses)

Why does it always look like one particular word is itching to come out of Boehners mouth each and every time he looks at President Obama??

Am I the only person that senses that??

December 13, 2012 03:48 pm at 3:48 pm |

SOUTHERN HOTTIE

Why does Boehner always look like he's about to cry?

December 13, 2012 03:51 pm at 3:51 pm |

Squigman

You'd think that the emphasis would be on doing whats right for the common man/woman, but apparently it's more complicated than it first appears. After all, when two bullies invade a playground they seldom play king of the hill, without trying to position themselves for eventual conquest. Get hep. This is not about raising taxes, or keeping taxes where they are. It's about who's in charge. Nothing else. Envision two dogs, and one has a bone.

December 13, 2012 03:59 pm at 3:59 pm |

Rudy NYC

I know. Let's just take every number in the "fudiciary fiasco", and cut them all by one half. Done.

December 13, 2012 04:21 pm at 4:21 pm |

Gurgyl

GOP need to stop its greed. It needs national concept. Pathetic they do not have any.

December 13, 2012 04:25 pm at 4:25 pm |

sonny chapman

How powerful are the 2% of Americans who would see their Income Tax rise to Clinton Levels, when the US Economy was kicking butt, for so many Repubs. to be TERRIFIED of them ?

December 13, 2012 04:27 pm at 4:27 pm |

Vidyashanti

Mr McCain and Graham has something to celebrate. What a shame .

December 13, 2012 04:33 pm at 4:33 pm |

Sniffit

Obama should have the meeting in the Oval Office, sit at his desk and make Boehner stand the whole time. You don't sit down unless th POTUS invites you to do so.

December 13, 2012 04:33 pm at 4:33 pm |

Sniffit

"Why does it always look like one particular word is itching to come out of Boehners mouth each and every time he looks at President Obama??

Am I the only person that senses that??'

Nope...you're not alone...I posted the same thing the other day hehe. Anyone wanna play hangman to guess the word?

December 13, 2012 04:37 pm at 4:37 pm |

SOUTHERN HOTTIE

@Wake up People!
Why does it always look like one particular word is itching to come out of Boehners mouth each and every time he looks at President Obama??

I'm so sick of the Republicans crying the blues, making threats,etc. over the fiscal cliff, just plain old kissing the butts of the rich, it would almost be a blessing to let the tax rates expire and see their reaction. I' sure Mr.Boehner would start to cry & Mitch McConnell would probably join him. Can't we somehow get rid of them? Possibly someone else could be elected to their positions.,

December 13, 2012 04:49 pm at 4:49 pm |

Francisco Decastro

I have a dog that that looks just like boehner. Nice doggy. She sleeps all day, snorts and fart all day long. I love my Jasmine Shih-tzu. But I don't like Boehner, no no.

Anyways, Obama needs to get on National television, and tell the world

"I am giving an ORDER for Congress and the Senate, to pass the bill that the middle class' tax will NOT go up, because that is a bill that we ALL agree on, so we should pass THIS BILL NOW. If Boehner and Congres does not pass this bill, it is because they do NOT care about the middle class at all, and are willing to hold them hostage, to protect the top 2%. This is proof if they care or not!, Pass the bill that we all agree on, and we can negotiate on the ones we do NOT agree, But the middle class and 98% of Americans NEED to feel safe and stay out of the fiscal Cliff. Again, This is an ORDER"

That would work, because if Republicans still don't do it, they will look even worse then they already do.

The Republicans seem to think that they won the election. Paul Ryan is the one who sponsored the Republicans Fiscal Cliff bill that Boehner is using. If we wanted Paul Ryans policies we would have voted for Romney but we don't. It is the President we voted for and his policies. Republicans are not working with the President to get the job done its still all infighting and its screwing with the economy. Maybe the Republicans are out of touch with the people and should disband, OH what a relief that would be OR listen to the people and pass the Presidents policies–Work Together!!!!!!

December 13, 2012 04:59 pm at 4:59 pm |

John

If this 'fiscal cliff' is so bad, why did both sides agree to it last year?

December 13, 2012 05:03 pm at 5:03 pm |

Earl

How is it the Republicans holding the middle class hostage to the taxes. Same could be said about the president, if he would just give in and hold the rates the same for all, than there is no problem, taxes would not go up for the middle class. See a two way street.

@Southern Hottie. Do you really think THAT matters?? Ever heard of the one drop rule??? That doesn't matter to a lot of people. If we didn't already know, most wouldn't even be able to tell. My brother and most of his kids are lighter than the POTUS.

December 13, 2012 05:19 pm at 5:19 pm |

SOUTHERN HOTTIE

@John
If this 'fiscal cliff' is so bad, why did both sides agree to it last year?

December 13, 2012 05:03 pm at 5:03 pm |
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No, sir, bub. The GOP-controlled house voted for the sequestration if no deal was cut.